Nandina plant named ‘Tuscan Flame’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Nandina  plant named ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ that is distinguishable by compact bushy habit and year round bright red foliage that displays an overall lacy effect. In combination these traits set ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Nandina  known to the inventor.

Genus: NANDINA.

Species: domestica.

Denomination: ‘TUSCAN FLAME’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e)of U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 61/210,731 filed on Mar. 23,2009.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NANDINA,commonly known as heavenly bamboo, which is grown as an ornamental shrubfor use in the garden and landscape. The new invention is knownbotanically as NANDINA domestica and will be referred to hereinafter bythe cultivar name ‘TUSCAN FLAME’. NANDINA domestica is in the familyBerberidaceae.

‘TUSCAN FLAME’ was discovered in 2000 by the inventor as a vegetativebranch sport which the inventor observed on an individual unnamed plantof the species Nandina domestica (unpatented). The parent plant wasgrowing within a commercial crop of Nandina domestica at the inventor'snursery in Salem, Oreg.

‘TUSCAN FLAME’ is distinguishable from Nandina domestica by habit,foliage color, foliage appearance, and inflorescence size. The closestcomparison plant known to the inventor is Nandina ‘Moyer's Red’(unpatented). ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ is distinguishable from the comparisonplant by habit and foliage color. In comparison with ‘Moyer's Red’,‘TUSCAN FLAME’ is significantly more compact and bushy, standing lessupright and retaining red foliage color year round.

‘TUSCAN FLAME’ grows with a bushy compact habit and requires little orno pruning. Foliage is finely divided resulting in an overall lacyeffect, and topmost foliage color is bright red throughout the year,with underlying leaves that are yellow-green. ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ is bestproduced under part shade, and may be propagated using cuttings ortissue culture. Rooting is rapid and cuttings fill a 1-liter or 2-litercontainer in 9-12 months. Cultural requirements include full sun topartial shade, average water, and well-draining soil. The inflorescenceof ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ is borne on second or third year old growth, and holdsinconspicuous off-white flowers on short panicles that are tucked deepinside the foliage. ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ bears small red fruits which aregenerally obscured by the current season's foliage growth.

‘TUSCAN FLAME’ is suitable for use in gardens as a border plant, lowhedge, container plant, or for use in the landscape where it is hardy inUSDA Zone 6.

‘TUSCAN FLAME’ was first asexually propagated by the inventor in 2001 atthe inventor's nursery in Salem Oreg. Asexual propagation wasaccomplished by taking basal stem cuttings. The inventor observed theoriginal and the first (2001) propagated plants for a further sevenyears and has determined that the distinguishing characteristics of‘TUSCAN FLAME’ are stable and uniform. Subsequent propagations haveconfirmed that ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ reproduces true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of ‘TUSCAN FLAME’. These traits incombination distinguish ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ from all other existing varietiesof Nandina known to the inventor. ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ has not been testedunder all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observedwith variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions,however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ grows with a compact bushy habit and requires        little or no pruning.    -   2. The foliage of ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ is more finely divided than the        species, resulting in an overall lacy effect.    -   3. ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ produces bright red foliage, which persists        year round.    -   4. ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zone 6.    -   5. ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ roots readily in 6-8 weeks and fills a 1-liter        container in approximately 9 months.    -   6. The flowers of ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ are short relative to the        species and are borne on second or third year old growth, and        are generally obscured by the current season's growth.    -   7. The fruits of ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ are bright red and are generally        obscured by the current season's growth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of‘TUSCAN FLAME’ showing the overall habit and the colors of its foliageand berries as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in colorreproductions of this type. Color in the drawings may differ from colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description, which accuratelydescribe the actual color of ‘TUSCAN FLAME’.

The drawing labeled FIG. 1 shows a seven years old plant of ‘TUSCANFLAME’ which has been established in the ground in Salem, Oreg. Thisdrawing depicts the overall habit and bright red foliage color of‘TUSCAN FLAME’.

The drawing labeled FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the red fruits of‘TUSCAN FLAME’. The fruits are only visible when the foliage is partedas shown.

Both drawings were made using conventional techniques and althoughfoliage colors may appear different from actual color due to lightreflectance, they are as accurate as possible by conventionalphotography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of ‘TUSCAN FLAME’.Color determinations are in accordance with 2001 The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart of London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations, measurements and values were collected in March 2010 inArroyo Grande, Calif., using a two and a half years old plant which hadbeen grown out of doors in Salem, Oreg. immediately prior to shipment toCalifornia for the purposes of botanical data collection. Growingrequirements are similar to the species.

-   Botanical classification: NANDINA domestica ‘TUSCAN FLAME’.-   Family: Berberidaceae.-   Genus: NANDINA.-   Species: domestica.-   Denomination: ‘TUSCAN FLAME’.-   Common name: Heavenly Bamboo.-   Commercial classification: Ornamental.-   Use: Border plant, low hedge, or container plant in garden or in the    landscape.-   Parentage: NANDINA domestica ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ was discovered as a    vegetative branch sport on an individual plant of the species    Nandina domestica.-   Pest and disease resistance: None known to the inventor.-   Pest and disease susceptibility: None known to the inventor.-   Plant description:    -   -   Habit.—Compact and bushy.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Type.—Shrub.        -   Height.—35 cm.        -   Width.—52 cm.        -   Root system.—Thick and fibrous.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 6.        -   Propagation method.—Vegetative stem cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots (range).—6-8 weeks to root cuttings.        -   Crop time (average range).—9-12 months to produce a 1-liter            or 2-liter container plant.        -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun to partial shade and            well-draining soil, with average water.        -   Stem.—Trunk width: 1 cm. Trunk color: 177A. Trunk surface:            Subcoriaceous. Mature stem width: 1 cm. Mature stem color:            183A. Mature stem surface: Subcoriaceous. Mature stem            strength: Strong and rigid. Lateral stem length (average):            20 cm. Lateral stem diameter (average): 2 mm. Lateral stem            surface: Longitudinally furrowed. Lateral stem shape:            Closest to quadrangular. Lateral stem strength: Strong and            flexible. Lateral stem color (range): 146C-146B. Internode            (range): 5-8 cm. Node surface: Pubescent. Node color: 53B.            Node dimensions: 5 mm in diameter and 3 mm. in height.        -   Foliage.—Type (range): Evergreen to semi-deciduous.            Arrangement: Opposite. Leaf division: Compound. Leaf margin:            Bipinnate. Quantity (average): 7 per lateral stem.            Attachment (range): Petiolate to clasping. Leaf color            (abaxial surface): Underlying leaves are in the yellow-green            range 146A to 146C and top leaves remain in the red and            purple range of 185A to 53A. Leaf color (adaxial surface):            Underlying leaves are in the yellow-green range 146A to 146C            and top leaves remain in the red and purple range of 185A to            53A. Leaf length (range): 6.0 cm-8.5 cm. Leaf width (range):            3.5 cm-6.0 cm. Leaf surface (abaxial): Glabrous. Leaf            surface (adaxial): Glabrous. Pinnae shape (range):            Oblanceolate to rhombic. Pinna margin: Entire. Pinna apex:            Apiculate. Pinna base: Attenuate. Pinna color (abaxial            surface): Underlying pinnae are in the yellow-green range            146A to 146C and top pinnae remain in the red and purple            range of 185A to 53A. Pinna color (adaxial surface):            Underlying pinnae are in the yellow-green range 146A to 146C            and top pinnae remain in the red and purple range of 185A to            53A. Pinna length (range): 3.75 cm-5.0 cm. Pinna width            (range): 1.10 cm-1.50 cm. Pinna surface (abaxial): Glabrous.            Pinna surface (adaxial): Glabrous. Venation: Conspicuous            depressed mid-vein. Vein color (abaxial surface): 183A. Vein            color (adaxial surface): 183A. Petiolule length (range):            2 mm. to 1 cm. Petiolule diameter (average): <2 mm.            Petiolule color: 187A. Petiolule surface: Glabrous.            Fragrance: None observed.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Panicle.        -   Length (range).—7-10 cm.        -   Width (average).—4.5 cm.        -   Peduncle color.—185D.        -   Peduncle length (range).—7-10 cm.        -   Flower quantity (average).—30 per peduncle.        -   Flower color.—155A.        -   Flower diameter.—7.5 mm.        -   Petals (range).—3-6.        -   Petal color.—155A.        -   Petal apex.—Acute.        -   Petal shape.—Obovate.        -   Petal length.—5 mm.        -   Petal width.—3 mm.        -   Lastingness (on the plant, range).—1-3 days.        -   Inflorescence appearance.—Inconspicuous.        -   Fragrance.—Insignificant.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—6 in number.        -   Color.—13B.        -   Pistil length.—4 mm.        -   Pistil width.—1.5 mm.        -   Pistil color.—159D.        -   Style color.—159D.        -   Stigma color.—39A.        -   Stigma shape.—Conical.        -   Ovary color.—159D.        -   Ovary diameter.—<3 mm.        -   Ovary.—Superior.-   Fruit:    -   -   Color.—N34B.        -   Diameter.—<1 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Surface.—Glossy.-   Seed: None observed to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nandina plant named ‘TUSCAN FLAME’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.